A Furious Father Solo Finished

The Owlery, 1st October 2022, after the events of Badgers and Lions, in the evening.
Colour code - #831100
Outfit

𝕯espite not being a Seer, Regina had a dreadful feeling pooling around her gut that unmistakably meant an impending disaster was going to befall her soon that day. She had woken up feeling quite jittery, and crossed paths with her fifth-year cousin in the Gryffindor Common Room on her way to breakfast. Oswald Barett had an unnaturally perplexed expression on his face as she had come into his view, saying something about how she should be more mindful about airing dirty laundry that would undoubtedly make people talk. Regina had disregarded his warning with her usual indifference, but it hadn't stop her heart from dropping to the bottom of her stomach.

Her carefully hidden concern had been confirmed when she'd been met with her Slytherin sister's triumphant smirk as she had stepped foot into the Great Hall--Rebecca Miller was only that happy and smug whenever she thought she'd done something that would end horribly for Regina. People had been shooting the raven-haired Gryffindor curious and wary looks throughout the meal, and once she'd had enough of being shamelessly eyeballed at, the young Heiress had swiftly stormed out of the hall without another glance and had gone about her day.

Now, however, as Regina climbed the steps of the West Tower for a daily mandatory check for owls from her parents, she came to a frightening realisation that the little scene she'd caused in the Study Room weeks ago had become a constant gossip from students who had witnessed the confrontation in the corridors. Regina had heard the whispers herself during the intervals between classes, and judging by her sister's suspiciously good mood that morning, she would be expecting a very unpleasant letter from home today. The Lion's hands clenched into tight fists as her lips thinned--that contemptible sister of hers had presumedly tattled to their Father again. It wasn't the first time Rebecca had done this at Regina's expense, and the latter had been a fool to not have anticipated it this time.

She could hear her traitorous heart beating wildly inside her chest with something akin to fear as she neared the Owlery and entered through the door to the first level. There, she immediately spotted the familiar feathers of the Miller family's owl on the perch and the trepidation grew. It was fortunate that no one else frequented this place at this hour, and that Regina wasn't obligated to hide her apprehensive expression. Her family owl chirped once when she approached it, gingerly detaching the parchment tied to its leg and petting the animal gently. Regina was slightly taken aback when it flew off moments later, and concluded that perhaps a response wasn't required of her this time. It was a bad sign.

With a resigned sigh, she opened the letter and came to face with her Father's refined handwriting.
Orchid eyes scanned repeatedly over the last two sentences.

Your skills are less promising than your older siblings, he'd written. Do not disappoint me again.

Regina's grip on the parchment became tighter until it wrinkled.

(She dared not to Incendio the letter, despite desiring vehemently so.)

Rebecca, you despicable twat. You shall pay for this.

The Lion was immensely relieved that her Father had not mentioned any punishment, but it was most likely because scuffles between students were of the regular and in a couple of days, nobody would talk anymore of what had happened at the Study Room and he knew this. Still, that short relief was snuffed out by the overwhelming rage at being regarded as less than equal to her siblings. Once again, Regina was reminded that in the House of Miller, she was at the bottom of the food chain. Her purpose was only to stay polite, look pretty and wait until the day she would be used to secure an alliance with another Pureblood family.

(It was unfair.)

Regina silently folded the letter and held it with a white-knuckle grip in her hand as she strode out of the Owlery. She needed some time to ponder lest she'd go mad with anger.

Perhaps the Astronomy Tower would do.

WC: 685
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